Roller mounting



Sept 9 1941- A. M. GRAHAM 2,255,314

ROLLER MOUNTING Filed July 51, 1959 //v VEN T012/ A-DELE/er M. GRAHAM @Y HA RR/J, K/ECH) Fos TER HARR/J A TTOQLVE K5.

Patented Sept. 9, 1941 ROLLER MQUNTING Adelbert M. Graham, Beverly Hills, Calif., as-

. L". Smith,'Los Angeles,

signor to Walter G Calif.

Application July 31, 1939 Serial No. 287,599

9 Claims. (Cl. 308-18) This invention relates to a pulley or roller mounting. It is disclosed in connection with a floating cable guide adapted to prevent lateral swaying of a cable line between a hoisting drum of the draw-works of a well drilling rig and the crown block at the top of the derrick. It is, however, as will be readily apparent, adaptable for use in many installations of other kinds.

In a cable guide of the type just mentioned, two outside pairs of cable rollers with parallel axes and two central rollers with their axes perpendicular to those of the four outside rollers are mounted in a frame structure which is vsuspended at an elevation inconvenient of access by the workers. It is therefore an advantage to have a cable guide of this type so constructed that it will operate for a long period of time without attention for lubrication or adjustment of the bearings, or tightening of the means by which the several members of the structure are held in assembled relationship.

It is an object of this invention to provide 'a roller mounting which will require a minimum of attention for lubrication.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a roller mounting which will require a minimum of attention for adjustment of the roller bearings or tightening of the several means by which the mounting is held in assembled rela-v tionship.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be made evident throughout the following part of the specification.

Referring to the drawing, which is for illustrative purposes only, Y

Fig. l is a perspective View of a floating cable guide for a well drilling rig, of the kind to which this invention is applicable.

Fig. 2 is an elevational View of one roller and its mounting shown partly in section.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of a roller and its mounting.

In Fig. 1 is shown a cable guide II engaging a cable I2 extending from a drum (not shown) of the draw-works of a well drilling rig to a crown block (not shown) at the top of the derrick. The guide II is suspended in position by means of a pair of cables I3 secured at their upper ends to a suitable part of the derrick so that it is at a substantial height above the cable drum and the floor of the derrick and relatively inaccessible to the operators of the rig. The guide II is controlled in its movementhorizon- 'tally by means of two cables I4 which are arranged parallel to the axis of the drum, and each of which passes over a pulley (not shown) and downwardly to a counterweighted end, all in the manner shown and described in a co- `pending application of Walter G. L. Smith, the

assignee of the present application, Serial No. 118,979, iiled January 4, 1937.

The cable guide II comprises two frame members I5 journalling upper and lower pairs of relatively spaced rollers I6 and I1 and an inte-rmediate pair of relatively spaced rollers I8 disposed perpendicularly to the upper and lower pairs of rollers, so that when the cable I2 is extended between the relatively spaced upper and lower pairs of rollers and the relatively spaced intermediate pair of rollers it is engaged on all four sides. rIhe frame members I5 are held in spaced relation by rods or shafts I9 which alsoserve as journalling members for the relatively spaced pairs of rollers I6 and I'I. Formed ineach of the frame members I5 is a central arched wall 29, and extending across each side of this arched wall and connecting its ends are parallel walls 2l between which one of the intermediate rollers I8 is journalled on a rod or shaftll,` the outer face of the roller conforming to the wall 20. A central portion 22 of the arched wall 29 is'provided with a projecting ear 23 which serves as a means for connection of the cables I3 and I4.

Each one'of the frame members I5, which is of a generally rectangularV configuration, is formed at' each one of its four corners with a vertically arranged, open-ended slot 24 extending from the upper or lower edge of the frame member, as the case may be, inwardly toward the central portion of the frame member. Each of the walls 2| is formed with a similar open-ended slot 24 disposed horizontally and extending laterally from the inner edge of the wall 2l a portion of the distance across it. Each of the rods or shafts I9 is seated in a pair of aligned slots 24 and each of the shafts I9 is seated in a pair of aligned slots 24. As each of the six rollers I, Il, and I8 is mounted on its shaft I9 or I9', and each of these shafts is seated in one pair of alignedl slots 24 Vor 24', in the same manner as any one of the other ve rollers and by means of similarly constructed and assembled structural elements, the following description will suffice for all Vsix of the rollers and their mountings,

The roll-er I6 as shown in the drawing comprises a cylindrical metal frame member 25 and a rubber body 25. Other types of rollers or pulleys may be used to meet the conditions of other installations without departing from the spirit of this invention. A bore chamber 21 of the cylindrical frame member 25 has two central chambers 28, each in the shape of a frustrum of a cone, communicating at their smaller ends at the median point of the bore at 29. Ihe bore chamber 21 also has an outer cylindrical chamber 39 at each of the ends of the roller frame 25 which communicates with the larger end of the adjacent conical chamber 28, providing at the junction point an annular shoulder 3| by reason of the larger diameter of the chamber 30.

In each of the cylindrical chambers 391s seated a ball bearing 32 which abuts the shoulder 3l at its inner end and is disposed with its outer race 33 and its inner race 34 in tight fitting engagement with the bore chambers 30 and the shaft I9 respectively in the usual manner of 'ball bearing assemblies. 'Ihel inner race 34 of the ball bearing 32 abuts endwise a shoulder 35 on the shaft I9. The bearing 32 is fixed longitudinally upon the shaft I9 between the shoulder 35 and a jamb nut 31 wihch is threaded upo-n the shaft. An annular `ball chamber 38 of the ball bearing is closed at its longitudinally outer end by means of a sealing ring 39 secured to the outer race 33 and slidably fitting the inner race 34. Lubricant placed in the central bore chambers 28 when the roller structure is assembled is propelled by centrifugal force into one of the ball chambers 38 through the peripheral portion of the inner` open end 40 of the chamber 38 and flows back into the chamber 28 through the central portion of the opening 49, providing a circulation which insures an adequate supply of clean fresh oil at all times to the operative surfaces of the bearing.

Thiscirculation is explained as follows: The rotative velocity of oil in the bearing chamber 38 is less than that of oil in the chamber 28 at the same radial distance from the axis of the rod I9, due to frictional contact with the bearing balls which rotate at half the speed of the roller frame 25 and outer race 33, and with the inner race 34 which is stationary. Consequently, the centrifugal force applied lto oil in the bearing chamber 33 and the uid pressure resulting is also less. This difference in pressure between oil at corresponding radial positions is increased when the balls are mounted in a cage, which has the effect of further retardation of the rotative velocity of the Voil in the bearing chamber. It is also true that the pressure differential between oil at the peripheral portion of the open inner end 43 of the bearing chamber 38 and oil at the centermost portion thereof is greater than the pressure differential between oil at two corresponding radial positions in the chamber 28.

As a result of lthis pressure relationship, oil flows from the chamber 28 into the radially outer portion of the chamber 38 and along the outer surface of the ball cage if there be one, where thefluid pressure is less, passes to the outer end of the chamber 3S, flows centrally thereof along the inner surface of the ball cage, and leaves the chamber at` the central portion of its inner end.

While this circulation of oil would occur if the chamber 28 were cylindrical, its conical shape possesses two advantages. It provides a smoother circulatory route in which eddy currents and other retarding influences are less apt to be present, and for any given capacity of the chamber 28 circulatory contact is maintained with the peripheral and centermost portions of the end 40 of the chamber 38 for a longer period as the quantity of oil in the chamber 28 decreases due to leakage.

The inner end of the slot 24 is counterbored at 4I inwardly from the outer face 42 of the frame member I 5. An annular ring or washer 43 is seated within this counterbore and is free to rotate with respect to the shaft I9. The inner face 44 of the frame member I5, which may, if desired, be provided with an integral inwardly extending spacing boss 45, is spaced from the bearing 32 and the end plane of the roller IIS by the nut 31 and a lock nut 46. 'I'he frame member I5 is held against movement away from the roller I6 by means of a nut 41 screwed on the outer threaded portion of the shaft I9 and bearing against the outer face of the washer 43. A cotter pin 48 is placed in the outer end of the shaft I9 and is spaced along the shaft from the outer face of the nut 41 a distance less than the depth of the counterbore 4I.

If, after the rollers have been assembled in the frame members I5 and the cable guide has been placed in its relatively inaccessible position, any one of the nuts 41 becomes loose upon the threads of its shaft I9, the washer 43 will prevent the shaft from moving outwardly in its slotted seat 24 and possibly becoming entirely disengaged from the frame members I5. Before a nut 41, should it thus become loosened, can back off on its shaft I9, a sucient distance for the washer 43 to clear the outer faces of the frame members, thereby allowing disengagement of the shaft from the frame members, it will be stopped by the cotter pin 4B. Also, should the nut 41 become loosened on its threads and the locknut 4B and the nut 31 as a result thereof also become loosened and move outwardly on the shaft I9, the bearing 32, even though it has limited lateral play, will still remain in operative position by reason of the length of the cylindrical bore portion 30 which extends beyond the outer face of the ball bearing. It will thus be evident that even though one of the nuts 41 should become loosened upon its threads, the rollers will yet be held in proper position and will continue to function as intended, and the circulation of the lubricant through the bearings will not be interrupted.

While this invention has been shown and described for purposes of illustration and explanation in connection with an installation of one specific kind, it is apparent that a roller or pulley mounting constructed in accordance with this invention may be employed in many other fields of use.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a pulley mounting, vthe combination of: a frame member having an open-ended slot therein, said slot being counterbored partway through said frame member at its inner end to a larger diameter than the width of said slot; a rod snugly seated in the inner end of said slot; an end thrust element longitudinally securable on said rod and bearing against the side of said frame opposite said counterbore; a washer on said rodr snugly seated in said counterbore; and clamping means secured on said rod adjacent the counterbored side of said frame, said means bearing laterally upon said washer, and being adapted toV clamp said frame member pressurally between said washer and said element.

2. In a pulley mounting, the combination of a frame arm formed with an open-ended slot therein, said slot being counterbored partway through said framearmat its inner end to a larger diameter than the width of said slot; a shaft snugly seated in said' slot having a threaded portion adjacent the counterboredside of said frame arm; an end thrust element longitudinally securable on said shaft and bearing against the side of said frame arm opposite said counterboreja Washer on said rod snugly seated in said counterbore; a nut threaded upon said threaded portion of said shaft and bearing against the outer face of said washer; and a travel stop for said nut removably fastened on said shaft beyond and spaced from said nut a distance less than the depth of said counterbore, said nut being free to turn with respect to said Cotter pin.

3. In a pulley mounting, the combination of two frame arms each formed with an openended slot therein and formed with a countersunk recess in its outer face adjacent the inner end of said slot and extending partway through the frame arm; a shaft with threaded end portions, said shaft being seated in said slots; a rotating element journaled on said shaft; a first set of two nuts on said shaft one at each end of said element for preventing longitudinal displacement of said element; a washer on said rod snugly fitting within each of said recesses; a second set of two nuts threaded one upon each end of said shaft and bearing against the outer face of a corresponding one of said washers and being adapted to clamp a corresponding one of said frame arms pressurally between the corresponding washer and the corresponding first nut; a travel stop for each nut of said second set removably fastened on said shaft adjacent each of its ends and spaced from the end of said nut of said second set a distance less than the depth of said recess; and means for positioning said frame arms with said slots aligned with each other.

4. In a pulley mounting, the combination of two frame arms each formed with an open-ended slot therein, said slots being counterbored adjacent their inner ends partway through said respective frame arms to a larger diameter than the width of said slots; means securing together said arms with said slots aligned and their counterbores facing outwardly; a shaft seated in said slots, said shaft having threaded end portions; a rotating element journalled on said shaft; spacer means on said shaft between each of said arms and said element; a washer on said rod snugly fitting within each of said counterbores; a nut threaded upon each end of said shaft and bearing against the outer face of a corresponding one of said washers and being adapted to clamp a corresponding one of said frame arms pressurally between the corresponding washer and spacer means; and a travel stop for each of said nuts removably fastened on said shaft beyond and spaced from said respective nuts a, distance less than the depth of said counterbore.

5. In a pulley mounting, the combination of: two parallel frame members, each formed with four outwardly directed, open-ended, symmetrically disposed slots, and each counterbored on its outer face at the inner ends of said slots partway through said frame member to a diameter greater than the width of said slots, each slot being in registering alignment with a corresponding slot of the other frame to constitute a pair; a

shaft seated in e'achpair of said slots, said shaft having threaded end portions; aroller mounted on each shaft between said frames; jamb nuts on each of said shafts between said roller and each of -said frames; a washer snugly seated on each of said rods in each of said counterbores; a second nut on said shaft outside of 'each of said frames and bearing on said washer and being adapted to clamp a corresponding one of said frame members between a corresponding one of said washers and a corresponding one of said jamb nuts; and a cotter pin in each of said shafts beyond said second nut and spaced therefrom a distance less than the depth of said counterbore, said last-named nut being free to turn with respect to said cotter pin.

6. In a pulley mounting, the combination of: a frame member having an open-ended slot and a counterbored recess on one side of said frame member disposed along said slot; a shaft longitudinally movably seated in said slot and laterally restrained by the side walls of said slot; a nut on said shaft bearing against the other side of said frame member; means including the pulley and its shaft bearings for preventing movement of said nut away from said frame member; a washer sleeved on said shaft and seated in said recess and bearing against the inner end wall of said recess; a second nut on said shaft bearing against said washer; and a travel stop means for said second nut removably secured to said shaft for preventing travel of said nut a suicient distance to allow said washer to become unseated from said recess.

'7. In a pulley mounting, the combination of: a rod; a slotted frame member, the slot of which is adapted to receive said rod through the open end of said slot by a lateral movement of said rod from without said frame member and to afford a seat for said rod transverse said frame member in which lateral movement of said rod is prevented except toward said open end; a recess extending part way into said frame member from a first surface of said frame member which is intersected by one open side of said slot, said recess opening into said slot between said rod and said open end and extending laterally beyond the walls of said slot; a retainer keyseated in said recess and disposed across said slot outwardly from beyond said rod for preventing movement of said rod toward said open end; an end thrust element secured on said rod to bear against a second surface of said frame member which is intersected by the other open side of said slot; and clamping means mounted on said rod and bearing against said retainer for forcing said frame member against said end thrust element.

8. In a pulley mounting, the combination of: a shaft support having an open-ended slot formed therein; a stationary shaft seated between and in engagement with the side walls of said slot; and means for preventing movement of said shaft toward said open end of said slot comprising a member sleeved on said shaft and wider than said slot, said support being provided with a shoulder means disposed at a substantial angle to the direction of said movement toward said open end of said slot and engaging said member in a manner to prevent movement 0f said member toward said open end.

9. In a pulley mounting for installation in an apparatus at a location inaccessible for adjustl ment, the combination of: a stationary shaft;

a wheel; means for rotatably mounting said wheel on said shaft including a pair of cylindrical rolling contact bearings; stop means on said shaft and stop means on said Wheel for each of said bearings, said four stop means limiting movement of said bearings toward each other along said shaft and said wheel, said Wheel, shaft, and bearings defining a, liquid-tight lubricant reservoir between said bearings, said Wheel and shaft defining a cylindrical housing for each of said cylindrical bearings substantially longer than its corresponding bearing and in which said bearing is slidably fitted, said housing extending from its corresponding stop means in a direction away from said reservoir; a first nut threaded on said shaft on the outside of each bearing for clamping said bearing against the corresponding stop means on said shaft and Wheel; a supporting means in end thrust contact with each of said first nuts by which said shaft is laterally restrained and on which said shaft is longitudinally slidable; a second nut threaded on said shaft for clamping each of said supporting means against said corresponding first nut; and a travel stop for each of said second nuts, each said travel stop being removably fastened to said shaft at a point suoiently close to its corresponding second nut to prevent movement of either bearing sufficient to project the outer end of said bearing beyond its housing upon al1 of said first and said second nuts becoming loosened.

ADELBERT M. GRAHAM.

cERTiFIcATE oF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,255,51Li. september 9, 19111.

ADELBERT M. GRAHAM..

1t is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification ofthe above nwnbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page, first column, line llt, claimZ, after the-Word "Washer" and before the semicolon insert "and being adapted to clamp said frame arm pressurally between said washer and said element-w;y line 17, same claim, strike out the comma after "counterbore" and lines 18 andy 19, strike out "said nut being free to turn with respect to said Cotter pin"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of October, A. D. 19111.

Henry Van Arsdale. (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

